Ariel was able to clear her throat enough to drink her tea properly before answering Meesei. "His extended family actually live together in a house near the walls. It's not especially large or luxurious, but his mother, father, and two aunts live there."

Ariel smiled and angled her eyes down. "They didn't seem outwardly taken aback when they met me but...they have other ways of expressing their isolation. It wasn't really in a way that I was prepared for." Ariel looked up to Meesei. "You see, they were all warm and welcoming smiles while I was in front of them and it felt like something was off. I found out soon after that they were talking about me behind my back. How I'm rumoured to be a 'wild mage' and I'll only bring trouble to the family. I'm sure that even if I wasn't a witch they would find something else wrong with me."

After a quick sigh of frustration, Ariel leaned back a bit. "It's tense, but I am working through it slowly. They attended our wedding, so it doesn't sound as bad as Fendros' situation by a large margin."

[hr]
Gallus looked to Cuts to check his comfort, and then carefully began handing over his hammer and many daggers. He didn't even keep one hidden this time, as was his habit. The two of them would be unlikely to find trouble here.

"You were her brother? Or her in-law?" Gallus asked while producing his weapons. "You have my condolences. I didn't catch your name."